Live Blogging GE’s Annual Meeting

Dec 14, 2010 3:30 pm ET

By Bob Sechler and Paul Glader

Subfreezing temperatures, overcast skies and the occasional snow flurry in Midtown Manhattan likely won’t dull what should be an upbeat message from General Electric Co. (GE) Chief Executive Jeff Immelt on Tuesday, when he unveils his annual outlook to analysts and investors at the “Saturday Night Live” stage in Rockefeller Center.

Immelt will be able to say he accomplished several of the goals he outlined during last year’s event, even if some of them were achieved in the last week.

The Fairfield, Conn., conglomerate is trying to rebuild trust with shareholders, given its latest 2-cent dividend increase announced last week. GE also is investing in its industrial business, including a $1.3 billion deal announced Monday for the U.K.’s Wellstream Holdings PLC (WSM.LN). GE Capital, a one-time investor albatross, also is showing improvement, which was another of Immelt’s high priorities from the 2009 outlook event.

Still, observers will be watching closely for indications that GE’s big industrial businesses are gaining traction, in the form of order and revenue growth. Immelt has hung his hat on the industrial businesses as the key to GE’s growth prospects, but they have yet to show a big upturn.

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